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III.

SERM. the Soul can be recovered from a state of Sickness to a ftate of Health. But fuch is the Gentleness and Fidelity of our divine Physician, that we may be fure he will ufe no Methods that are more fevere than neceffary, nor continue them longer than is needful.

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4. From what hath been faid, we fee the true method of Salvation conftituted in the Gospel and have a plain answer to that important Question, What must I do to be faved? Our Souls can no otherwise be faved from Death, than by being cured of those Distempers which are the Fore-runners of it. And the ordinary way in which they are cured of those fatal Diftempers is that which hath now been laid before you. That is to fay, we must first be thoroughly fenfible of our Danger thereby; for which the Word of GOD is given us: and then be heartily wil ling to accept the Remedy offered; to which end the holy Spirit is oftentimes at work on our Hearts: and then actually accept the Grace of Chrift, which is freely exhibited and tendered to us: and by that Grace continue to follow the Directions, and live according to the boly Rules of God's Word, which are

pre

prefcribed us in order to perfect our Reco- SERM. and prevent our Relapse.

very,

If there be any Mortifications in this way, they are only fuch as arife from the Neceffity of the Cafe. Whatever other Methods of Salvation some may fondly imagine to themselves, let me only fay it is extremely dangerous to truft to them. And a Mistake here, as it is irretrievable, fo it is of everlastlafting Detriment. The Soul once loft is for ever loft. And indeed if we confult the Word of GOD impartially, if we confider but the Reason of Things, the Nature of true Happiness, the Perfections of the divine Being, and wherein the proper Felicity of the Soul confifts, we shall foon be convinced, that nothing less than the Remedy which the Gospel propofes, and of which I have just given you a fhort Abstract, can fecure it's everlasting Salvation.

What remains then, but that whilst we contemplate this Character, under which Christ is pleased to represent himself, we esteem, honour, love and value him as the great Physician of our Souls; apply to him as fuch; truft our Souls in his Hands; follow the Directions of his Word and Spi

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III.

III.

SERM. rit, in a conftant Dependence on his Grace and Help; and we have then a folid Foundation on which to build our Hope. For our Recovery from Sin is our fitness for Happiness. And we have the Word of our great Physician for it, that if we thus come to him, we shall not perish but have everlasting •Life.

SER

SERMON IV.

The future HAPPINESS of the RIGHTEOUS.

PSALM Xcvii. II.

Light is fown for the Righteous; and Gladness for the Upright in

Heart.

HERE is a Force and Fulness in fome Scripture Phrases and Expreffions that is not eafy to be

exhausted; infomuch that the more we attend to them, the more we learn from them; and discover fomething new almost every time we carefully confider them. An Excellency peculiar to the facred Wri

tings,

SERM. tings, and justly urged as a good Argument IV. of their divine Authority.

For an Inftance of this, I need only refer you to the Lord's Prayer; a Form fo full and comprehensive, fo particular and expreffive, that it is not in the Power or Wisdom of Man to compofe any thing like it; as any one may see who hath read a good Comment on that part of Scripture.

The Words prefix'd to this Difcourfe is another Inftance of the fame kind; which contain in them a more full and fruitful Inftruction than it is poffible for any one to difcern at first reading; which will be my Apology for infifting upon them longer than I usually chufe to do upon one Text.

They may be confidered as an independent Propofition, in which the following things are to be observed.

I. The Character that is here given of good Men, They are Righteous and Upright.

II. Their prefent ftate implied, viz. Darknefs and Sorrow.

III. Their future ftate expreffed, viz. Light

and Gladness.

Laftly,

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